Manuel Pellegrini reckons City are the top dogs in Manchester after United's challenge has fallen away this season.

The eyes of world football will be trained on the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night when City take on Barcelona in a Champions League last 16 first-leg tie.

And with United down in seventh place in the Premier League and already out of the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, Pellegrini feels his side have overtaken their Red rivals.

Pellegrini said in the pre-Barcelona press conference: "The biggest thing is City now but we cannot forget the last few years. We as a club managed to win many titles and we are fighting for three years and what is important is the club has the patience to build up a team."